The
Facility

REGGIE LEWIS TRACK & ATHLETIC FACILITYBy Steve Vaitones

It was a long time coming but fulfillment of
decades of dreams when the $17 million Reggie Lewis
Track & Athletic Facility opened its doors in
July 1995. The building, officially opened and
dedicated on November 5, 1995, is named for the
late Boston Celtics star Reggie Lewis, a graduate
of Boston's Northeastern University and a popular
community contributor.

Discussion and planning of a state owned and
constructed track facility began in 1958 after the
demolition of Boston's East Newton Street Armory,
but years of politics and questions over site and
structure were not put to rest until groundbreaking
on the campus of Roxbury Community College in
October 1993. Much credit must be given to the late
Bob McIntyre, a founder of the Massachusetts Track
Coaches Association in 1955, who took part in the
original planning and saw the project through all
the years of hopes and setbacks.

Though a gymnasium, fitness center, exercise
studios, and seminar rooms are included in the
complex, they were all built around the
state-of-the-art track. Viewing the venue from the
second floor meeting room observation windows and
the foyer balcony across from the State High School
Coaches Association office, one marvels at the
site.

Six lanes of alternating light and dark blue
Mondo cover the wood based 200 meter track.
Permanently banked at a comfortable 24" at lane
six, the track is suitable for both regular
training and all levels of racing. It has proven to
be lightning fast. The oval surrounds an eight lane
sprint straightaway, and an additional five
practice sprint lanes are available when the
homestretch grandstands are rolled back.

Mondo stretches from wall to wall, serving as
runways for all jumps and the landing area for the
one permanent and several portable throwing
circles.

Conduit carries all necessary computer and
timing cables under the floor, eliminating clutter.
The building is wired for both a networked on-line
clerking and check-in computer system, as well as
for a FinishLynx automatic timing system. All of
this is surrounded by 3000 seats and covered by a
sky-lit roof providing plenty of natural light.

Built as a "schoolboy" track facility (remember,
it was first conceived in 1958), the Reggie Lewis
Facility gives a permanent home to the city and
state scholastic programs. Scheduling and policy
continue to be fine-tuned. Boston schools finally
have a permanent practice and competitive home as
they run every weekday afternoon, and other leagues
come in most every evening. Major scholastic meets
previously scattered to local colleges, from
Freshman/ Sophomore meets to all-state and New
England titles, fill the weekend schedule from late
December through early March. Community and club
practice time fills in available open slots. Major
events are already gravitating to the facility, the
National Scholastic Meet was held here for three
years as a showcase of high school talent from
around the country, and produced numerous
scholastic best performances. The USATF National
Masters Championship will be conducted here for the
fourth year in a row (with the meet scheduled for
2001 and 2002 as well), after well over 100 World
and US masters records recorded here at
"Reggie".

Built first and foremost for track, the Reggie
Lewis facility provides a facility unrivaled
nationwide for scholastic activities, and will
contribute to the growth of the sport in Boston, in
Massachusetts, and in New England.